And ... the odd stolen game if possible, two points in a contest that
likely would and could have gone the other way had it not been for an imbalance
in the nets.

An imbalance is exactly what occurred in Chicago on Saturday night
when the Calgary Flames turned back the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of
5-2.

The final score likely flattered the visitors as Hawk goalie Jocelyn
Thibault struggled, allowing five goals on 25 shots, while his
counterpart, Roman Turek, turned aside 33 of the 35 shots he saw from
Chicago.

Despite two goals, and three points (including his first goal as a
Flame) from newcomer Chris Drury, Roman Turek was the game story.

The Flames were out shot by a margin of 13-6 in the first period, but
inexplicably escaped with a 2-0 lead on goals by Drury and Jarome
Iginla, his 2nd of the campaign.

Iginla opened the scoring 11 minutes in when he converted a back hand
past Thibault with assists going to Drury and Craig Conroy.

Later in the period, Drury notched his first of the season with an
unassisted goal with just under four minutes to play in the frame.

The Flames recovered in the second period, gaining more of the play,
and forging ahead to a 3-0 lead when Bob Boughner fired a long bounce
shot past a startled Thibault. Boughner's goal was the eventual game
winner, but not before the Hawks made it interesting.

Before the end of the second period they climbed to within one goal
on the strength of markers by Steve Thomas and Steve Sullivan, setting
up an interesting third period.

Or so they thought ...

With the Hawks poised to tie the game and enjoying a huge edge in
play in the first five minutes, including a 6-1 edge in shots, Martin
Gelinas salted things away with his 3rd as a member of the Flames.

Chris Drury added a second goal late to make the final score 5-2
Calgary, giving the Flames a victory in the opening night of a three
game road trip, and pushing the clubs unbeaten streak to three games
after a 0-2-0 start.

The Flames take their road show to Detroit for a contest on Monday
night before concluding their road trip in Minnesota on Tuesday.

1
Roman Turek -
saved the
Flames bacon
in the first
period,
greatly over
shadowed
Thibault at
the other
end.

2
Chris Drury -
Two goals,
three points,
a solid night
for the newly
acquired
winger.

3
Jarome Iginla -
Nice to see
Iginla over
shadowed with
a goal and an
assist of his
own.

SAVE
OF THE GAME

Roman
Turek stones
two former
Flames,
Michael
Nylander and
Phil Housley,
with back to
back saves
three minutes
into the third
period,
setting up
Gelinas to put
the game away.

NOTES
& STATS

Jordan
Leopold saw his
first NHL action on
the night, hitting
the ice for a total
of 17:43 of action,
and finished even.
... Chuck Kobasew
picked up his first
NHL assist on the
final Chris Drury
goal, stretching his
point streak to
three games. ...
There were only four
man advantage
situations in the
game, quite a feat
in the new
"call
everything"
NHL. ... The
insertion of Leopold
into the lineup
seemed to create a
more even balance of
ice time for the
defenceman with Toni
Lydman dropping from
over 27 minutes
against Philly to
just over 21
tonight. ... The
Flames were edged in
the face off circle
by a count of 38-33.